Thread protector



l Jn. 10, 1939.` Vl.. s. GUNDERMAN THREAD PROTECTOR original Filed Feb.-.21, 1955 mvzNToR i Patented Jan. 10, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEReiled for abandoned application Serial No. 7,593,

February 21, 1935. This application September 18, 1937, Serial No.164,479

4 Claims.

This invention relates to improvement in thread protection and moreparticularly to the protection of threaded ends of pipe.

An object of this invention is to provide a protector which can bequickly applied and quickly removed and yet it is very securely held inposition on the pipe.

This feature and other objects of the invention lie in the novelconstruction and combination of parts and may be understood byVreference to accompanying drawing, of which:

Fig. 1 is an end elevation of a pipe end protector embodying myinvention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section taken on line A-A in Figure 1. Theprotector being shown in a closed position as applied on the usual pipesleeve or coupling.

Fig. 3 is a view of the protector in a side elevation, and shows theprotector in a closed position. i

Fig. 4 is similar to Figure 3 and shows the protector in an openposition.

Fig. 5 is a view of a modified form of the` device, used for the outsideof pipe and circular objects.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on line B--B of Figure 5.

Fig. 7 is a view of the locking key for the modied form in Figure 5,

Referring to drawing, 8 indicates an ordinary pipe sleeve which isthreaded internally and the device mounted therein. The protector 9 ismade from a strip of metal and rolled into a circular form. Both ends I0of the blank are notched inwardly from the edges II and connectedtogether by tapering edges I2. The other end of the edges hascorresponding tapers I3 which taper inwardly from the edges Ill and areof the same degree of taper as edges I2. A key member I4 is slidablymounted between these edges. The size of the key member` I4 and thetaper edges thereon are made to t the edges I0, II, I2, and I3 so thatwhen the key is driven into position, it will secure the device on thearticle to be protected. When the key is driven across the ends of thesleeve, the tapered ends I2 and I3 will spread the sleeve to a greaterdiameter, forcing the sleeve into contact with the threads. The paralleledges I0 and II are a means for preventing the key member from beingaccidentally jarred loose causing the sleeve to become loose and thusfailing to protect the threads. If the key and the sleeve were providedwith a continuous taper, then with the constant jarring in the handlingand ship-ping of (Cl. 13S-96) the pipe, the key would become loosenedand the sleeve would come ofi the pipe and thus fail to protect thethreads.

Figure 3 shows the key in a closed position and Figure 4 shows the keyin an open position. Located on the inside of the collar 9 and on theinner surface of the key member I4 is a guide plate I 5 and on theoutside of the key member and the collar is a second guide plate I6. Theguide plates I5 and i6 are securely mounted on the key member butslidably connected on the collar 9. The guide plates I5 and I6 hold theedges of the key member I4 and the edges of. the collar 9 in position sothat the edges thereof cannot slip past each other when the key memberis moved in and out of locking position.

In Figure 4, the outer guide plate 86 is not shown in order to give aplainer view of the locking key and its association with the collar 9.

The innermost edge I'I of the guide plate I6 is of a greater width thanthe outer edge to prevent the key member from being detached from thecollar when the key member is moved to an open position so that the edgeI'I will contact with the ange 20' to prevent the removal of the wedgefrom the sleeve.

The large end of the key I4 has a right angle projection I8 to limit theinward movement of the key when it is driven into locking position andwhen in this position the end of the pipe is protected by the flange I8.The small end of the key has a right angle bend I9 thereon which extendsinwardly to provide a means at which point the key may be driven from alocking position.

The outer edge of the collar 9 has a right angle circular extension 20thereon which locates the collar on the pipe when mounting the devicethereon.

Between the collar 9 and the article to be protected is a yieldingmember which serves to cushion any blow which the collar` mightaccidentally receive.

In the collar 9 and near the inner edge thereof is a series of slightindentations 22 which force the yielding member at these points inbetween the threads on the pipe when the device is tightened in aprotective position.

Figures 5, 6, and 7 illustrate the present protector as applied to theexternal threads of. a pipe. In this case the collar 9 is slightlylarger than the outside diameter of the pipe. The ends 23 of the collarare of the same taper and general shape as on the internal protector butare reversely bent leaving space between the collar and the ends 23 forthe key member 24 to slide freely therein. The key 24 is larger than thekey member I4 so that the edges 25 may be reversely bent in order toreside in the space under the end 23 of the collar 9.

It will be seen that in both forms of protector that the tapered edge onthe collar and the tapered portion on the key coacts therewith when thekey is driven across the collar at right angles thereto to force thecollar into contact with the object to be protected.

The large end of the key 24 is provided with an extension 26, the end ofwhichV is provided with a right angle bend 21 thereon to abut the endmember 23 to hold the key in an assembled position on the collar 9, thuspreventing the key from coming off the collar 9 when not in a tightenedposition.

Inside the collar 9 is a yielding member 28.

In Figures and 6 the collar is shown in an open position in whichposition the device is applied merely by slipping it into position onthe object to be protected. Then by driving the end of the key flushwith the edge of the collar, the tapers on the collar and the key willforce the collar against the Wall of the object to be protected.

It will be obvious that in each instance, the protector comprises ametal sleeve the ends of which are shorter on one edge than the oppositeedge with angular edges connecting the said long and short ends, andthat the key member has substantially corresponding width and tapersthereon to coact with the end of the sleeve to bring the said sleeveinto contact with the object to be protected when the key member isforced across the ends of the said sleeve.

What I have disclosed and what I now consider -the preferred embodimentof the invention, it will, of course, be understood that I do not regardmy invention .as limited to the particular embodiment disclosed, sincevarious Achanges may be made therein without departing from the spiritof the invention and the scope of the applied claims. f

responding parallel and tapered portions on the edges thereof slidablymounted between the ends of the said sleeve, said key, when movedlongitudinally in relation to the pipe, expanding the collar against thewall of the pipe.

2. A protector for the purpose named adapted to slip into position forprotecting threaded pipe ends, comprising an expandable and contractablesleeve made from a strip of metal, said sleeve having parallel andtapering portions on the ends thereof and a right angle circular angethereon, a key member provided with corresponding parallel and taperedportions on the edges thereof mounted between the ends of said sleeve,plates of greater width than the said key being mounted on each side ofthe key, one edge of one plate abutting the circular flange of saidsleeve to prevent the removal of the key from the said sleeve, and aninwardly extended end on one plate to facilitate the releasing of saidkey, said key being slidable between the ends of said sleeve, said keybeing held against longitudinal displacement when the key has expandedthe collar by contact between said parallel portions of the key and theparallel portions of the sleeve, and a yielding member to lie betweenthe sleeve and the pipe.

3. A device for the purpose named adapted to slip into position forprotecting pipe threads, comprising a contractable and expandable sleevemade from a strip of metal having a right angle circular extension onone edge thereof, the ends of said sleeve having parallel and taperedportions, and a wedging member having corresponding parallel and taperedportions being mounted between the ends of said sleeve to force the saidsleeve into gripping vaction with the said pipe threads When movedlongitudinally in relation to the pipe, and a yielding member adapted tolie between the said sleeve and the pipe. Y

4. A device for the purpose named adapted to slip into position forprotecting pipe threads, comprising a contractable. and expandablesleeve having offset and tapering portions on the ends thereof and awedging member having corref sponding offset and tapering portions onthe edges thereof to coact transversely with the said ends of the sleeveto'force the said sleeve into retaining contact with the pipe threads,and a yielding member to lie between the said sleeve and the said pipethreads.

LESTER S. GUNDERMAN.

